The City Council’s Quality of Life and Environment committee pushed forward two options to address the ordinance, which currently requires all cyclists to strap on a helmet. One would scrap the rule altogether, while the other would keep the requirement for kids younger than 17.

The full council will address the recommendations in the coming weeks.

A helmet requirement is seen by some as an obstacle to those efforts. And more broadly, some cycling advocates say Dallas’ nearly two-decades-old helmet ordinance is unnecessary and counterproductive, especially given that enforcement is currently spotty.

“It’s not the worst thing in the world if people don’t wear helmets,” said Robin Stallings, executive director of BikeTexas. “It’s probably more dangerous to sit in front of your TV eating a bag of chips all the time than riding a bicycle without a helmet.”

The committee solicited feedback Monday from several stakeholders. And while nearly all the speakers said they wanted to encourage helmet use through education or other measures, most also said they supported full repeal of the ordinance.

Some said such ordinances make it not cool to wear a helmet, particularly if the rules are targeted at just children. Others said there wasn’t enough evidence to show helmet rules are effective in reducing injuries.

And several pointed out the potential conflict with the city’s bike-sharing program, which is slated to feature self-service bike rental stands. Most people don’t carry around helmets, so such a program would seem to be in direct conflict with the city’s ordinance.

One cautionary voice was Shelli Stephens-Stidham, executive director of the Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas. Though she didn’t take a specific policy stand, she referred to research that highlighted the importance of helmets -- and helmet ordinances -- particularly in protecting children.

After listening to the testimony, council members agreed that some changes needed to be made to the city’s bike-helmet ordinance. But they weren’t unanimous in just how far to go.

Lee Kleinman and Philip Kingston said they favored full repeal. Rick Callahan, Adam Medrano, Carolyn Davis and Dwaine Caraway said that they would support limiting the restriction to children under 17. And Sandy Greyson said she was torn between the two choices.